Ramblings from the Village of Radium Hot Springs

Despite the unpredictable weather, we are seeing the beginning of the summer season in Radium and the rest of the Columbia Valley. Of course this means heavy traffic on Fridays and Sundays (or Mondays of long weekends). There has long been a recognition that the 4 way stop in Radium is not efficient during peak traffic and the Ministry of Transportation has been working very closely with the Village, Visitor Centre, Parks Canada, and the RCMP to come up with solutions for keeping the traffic moving.

As you may have read in recent media, the solutions are not failsafe and there will be some opportunities for improvement. Highway 1 was closed in both directions last Saturday due to a washout on a bridge over a creek west of Revelstoke. I am very pleased with the response from the BC Ministry of Transportation for this event. Before noon, the plan was in place, and the flaggers were en route from Cranbrook. Although I was not on site, all accounts suggest that it was a very different scene than was experienced during the May long weekend. With tourist season starting, heavier traffic loads and construction on Highway 1, we can expect to have extraordinary events sporadically for the foreseeable future. Until we have a permanent solution for the intersection of Highways 93 and 95, we are pleased to be working in partnership with the Province to mitigate issues as much as possible.

Work continues on our new Community Hall. Council is exploring options for showcasing local artists both inside and outside the new facility. Watch for upcoming opportunities for both artists and donors.

I attended a quarterly board meeting for the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Government (AKBLG) last weekend in Creston. Discussion ensued regarding potential sessions for the elected officials at the next conference in Fernie in 2018. Workshops are intended to educate, motivate, and engage the attendees. While we can brainstorm potential ideas, it occurred to me that we never ask the electorate if they have ideas about what professional development their local government officials could benefit from. If you have any ideas or see gaps in skill sets for elected officials generally, please email me with suggestions at clara.reinhardt@radiumhotsprings.ca.